With the roof of the Ford Expedition torn open, CHP Officer Ron Benfer and an involved person look at an item from the vehicle. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
Another collision occurred early Saturday afternoon at what may well be the most dangerous intersection in Glenn County.
Every year, far too many vehicle accidents occur at the intersection of Highway 32 and County Road P.
Not a few of these crashes have involved fatalities.
On Saturday, Oct. 15, at about 12:23 p.m., another accident occurred at this intersection.
Fortunately, this time, no one seemed to be seriously injured, although the driver of one of the vehicles had to extricated with the “Jaws of Life.”
Emergency responders from the California Highway Patrol, Orland Police Department, Orland Fire Department, and Enloe Ambulance were quickly on the scene.
Its right rear fender smashed, the Jeep involved in Saturday’s crash at Highway 32 and County Road P rests by the side of the road. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
It is tentatively believed that the accident occurred when a Jeep Cherokee traveling south on Road P pulled out in front of a Ford Expedition traveling east on Highway 32.
The Ford flipped over onto its passenger side and came to a stop on the southeast corner of the intersection.
The woman who was driving the Ford could not get out and firefighters had to open up the roof of the vehicle to extricate her.
The Jeep came to a stop on the east side of Road P, just south of Highway 32.
A third vehicle reportedly also sustained very minor damage, but left after the driver provided the CHP with information.
One wonders how many more accidents, injuries and deaths will occur before the state and/or county makes this intersection safer.
Watch The Observer for an update regarding this collision in the days to come.
Leon “John” Roff – dedicated and loving husband, father of four, and friend of many – died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. The fourth and only boy of five children, he was born in Brainerd, Minn., to Leon and Emma Roff, on March 17, 1936.
He grew up hunting, fishing, and causing a ruckus. He enjoyed a successful career in carpentry that brought him to California, where he worked at Comet Rice and met the love of his life, Jane.
Together they spent 40 years loving one another unconditionally and raising a beautiful family.
No matter where John went, his smile, sarcasm, and kindness made an impact. He loved country music, cheered faithfully for the Raiders, cherished his pecan trees, enjoyed helping Jane make quilts, and never encountered a repair job he could not fix.
One of his biggest contributions was through “John’s Pool,” where he spent 35 years bringing people together and helping children and adults learn to swim. He opened his pool to the town of Willows and provided a place of joy, community, and laughter. He loved watching the children grow up and eventually bring their own children to his pool.
He is survived by his daughters, Brandi, Kelly, and Kerri; seven grandchildren; and the countless family and friends he has touched throughout his life. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Jane; daughter, Angela; and his sisters, Ermadale, Imogene, Shirley, and Judy.
A celebration of life is planned for 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at F.D. Sweet and Son Mortuary, 114 North Shasta Street, Willows, with a reception to follow at “John’s Pool,” 621 Third Street, Willows, where friends and family will enjoy one last barbecue to celebrate John’s life.
Ginger Elaine Martin Gammon died unexpectedly in her Willows home on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. She was born to Lillie and William Martin on June 30, 1952.
She grew up in Oklahoma and then later moved to Gridley, Calif. Growing up, she was very close with her mom and one older sister, and she always had a dog.
She was a wild teenager. She spoke of running through orchards, getting into trouble with her girlfriends, getting kicked off the stage at an Elvis concert, and she enjoyed attending movies.
It was during her time in Gridley that she met and fell in love with Doug Gammon. They both worked at a local burger shack called the “Ice Burgie”.
They were engaged in 1969 and married in September of 1970. They had their honeymoon in Monterey.
The couple bought their first home in 1974, in Willows. It would end up being their “forever home.”
She went to beauty school and carried her love of makeup and jewelry with her, her whole life. She always wore makeup and her hair always had to be done.
Doug Gammon was deployed to Vietnam in 1969 and Ginger worked and held down things at home. She often spoke of how hard those times were, waiting on letters and hoping he would return safely.
He did and in October, 1972, they welcomed their first baby boy, Joshua Richard Gammon. Five years later, in December of 1977, they had their second son, Jordan Tyler Gammon, and then in March, 1981, they welcomed their third and last son, David Michael Gammon.
Ginger was an amazing wife and mother. She managed working full time, doing all the housework, raising three boys, and always had a homecooked meal on the table every night, and made it look easy.
She always went all out for the holidays, hosting huge family dinners with her mom and sister, where her three boys as well as her four nephews and one niece would get together.
In October of 1994, as Ginger would say, she finally got her baby girl: Her first granddaughter, Kylie Alyssa Gammon, was born.
Ginger had seven grandkids. After Kylie came Tony, Brittyn, Troy, Marissa, Shane, and Cole. They all lived in Willows and she got to help raise them all.
It turned out the only thing she was even better at than being a mother was being a grandmother. She loved to spoil them all and there wasn’t a day when the house wasn’t filled with candy and baked goods.
There was nothing she loved more than her family and the house was never empty. Her three sons went to see her almost every day and the grandkids were always over.
You could always go to “Grandma’s” for some stories, advice, and, of course, a homecooked meal.
Later on, in 2019, her great-grandchild, Max Gonzalez, was born, and then in 2022, Adrian Gonzalez. She adored them and they were so lucky to know her.
She loved scary movies, Elvis music, and chocolate.
In 2012, she got to visit Graceland with her husband and granddaughter. She was like a kid in a candy store, touching all the things she thought he might have touched.
She loved her dogs, usually having up to five in the house at a time. When she was young, she would always say she wanted a puppy farm, and she basically did get one!
She raised cocker spaniels for many years and eventually switched her obsession to pugs. She spoiled them as well, with Doug often joking that the dogs ate better than he did.
She also loved the ocean, visiting Fort Bragg as often as she could throughout her life.
Everything she did, she went all in. She always went through phases where she obsessed over something and then would move onto something else.
Over the years, to name a few, her hobbies including knitting, crocheting, sewing, baking, making shoes, gardening, video games, etc. She was a very good painter as well.
She would paint really neat birdhouses and other things that Grandpa would build. When she entered the 21st century and her son, Jordan, got her a computer, many of her hobbies became computer games and learning to email.
She would say she didn’t like to cook, but even so she was the best at it. Many of her recipes were passed on from her mom and that was something that they shared.
Especially during the holidays, she made sure to make everyone homemade cinnamon rolls, holiday-themed sugar cookies, popcorn balls, and all kinds of other treats.
She ran the Sani Food Deli in Willows for many years. Most of the salad and dip recipes they still use today are from her, along with the popular “Honker Meal” that she created.
Her favorite drinks were Diet Pepsi and Starbucks. She also loved her snacks, sending Doug to the store every day with a list of items, whatever the craving of the week was.
She was lucky enough to spend her life married to her high school sweetheart and on Sept. 12 of this year they celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary.
Her family is planning on spreading her ashes in Fort Bragg, one of her favorite places. She will be greatly missed.
The vehicle involved in the hit and run collision with a pedestrian on Oct. 1 may have been similar to this 2010 Mercedes C250. The vehicle in this photo is not the one involved in the collision.
Glenn County Observer
The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office is still looking for the driver involved in a Willows hit and run (vehicle versus pedestrian) collision from the evening of Saturday, Oct. 1.
At about 7:48 p.m. on that date, deputies responded to a report of a person laying in the roadway in front of Circle K, 210 West Wood Street.
Deputies found Victoria Zunega-Portillo, 63, of Willows, who had been struck by a vehicle as she was trying to cross Wood Street near Shasta Street.
Due to Portillo’s injuries, deputies requested Willows Fire Department personnel and an ambulance.
According to witnesses, Portillo was struck by a silver passenger vehicle that fled the area.
With the help of witnesses, deputies determined the vehicle may have been a gray or silver 2008-2011 Mercedes C250 and that it would have damage to the passenger side headlight.
After the collision, the suspect vehicle did not stop and continued eastbound on Wood Street to an unknown destination.
Portillo was transported by ambulance and the deputies conducted an extensive search for the vehicle, without success.
Deputies searched the area but were unable to locate the vehicle.
On Wednesday, Oct. 5, the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office issued a request for information from the public in relation to this hit and run.
Anyone with information regarding the location and identification of the driver of the vehicle or the vehicle’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office.
Members of the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office can be contacted in person at 543 West Oak Street, Willows; or by phone at 530-934-6431.
Glenn County Sheriff Richard Warren swore in Sheriff-Elect Justin Gibbs as undersheriff on Monday, Oct. 10. Gibbs will serve in the role of undersheriff and acting sheriff until he officially takes office as Glenn County Sheriff in less than three months. Gibbs is the third person to serve as acting sheriff since Sheriff Warren suffered major injuries in a motorcycle accident on June 26. The first was Undersheriff Jason Dahl and the second was Lt. Travis Goodwin, who early Monday afternoon was still issuing sheriff’s logs as acting sheriff. Gibbs is scheduled to take office as sheriff on Jan. 2.
A motorcyclist was flown by helicopter to Enloe Medical Center in Chico for treatment of major injuries following a three-vehicle collision south of Willows Sunday morning.
At about 10:55 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9, Marcos Parra, 23, of Williams, was riding a 2004 Yamaha motorcycle south on Highway 99 at an unknown but high rate of speed, approaching County Road 68.
Thomas Cronin, 36, of Redding, was driving a 2019 Toyota Tacoma west on Road 68 and was stopped at the intersection with Highway 99.
David Bianchi, 57, of Sebastopol, was driving 2016 Peterbilt east on Road 68, and was also stopped at the intersection with Highway 99.
As Thomas Cronin and his pickup traveled into the intersection, the front of the Yamaha collided with the right front of the Tacoma.
Marcos Parra and the Yamaha continued in a southwesterly direction and Parra was ejected from the motorcycle, and both collided into a perimeter fence.
The Yamaha caught fire after the crash.
The Tacoma was pushed in a southwesterly direction and collided with the left front of the Peterbilt.
All three vehicles sustained disabling damage and were towed from the scene of the accident.
According to California Highway Patrol Officer Shane Roach, Cronin and Bianchi were both wearing their seatbelts and neither of them was injured.
Parra was wearing his helmet incorrectly and it came off during the crash. He suffered major injuries that included an apparent compound fracture to his right leg and major facial injuries.
He was flown to Enloe Medical Center in the Enloe FlightCare helicopter.
Neither alcohol nor drugs appeared to be a factor in this accident.
Besides CHP officers, Glenn County Sheriff’s deputies, Willows firefighters, and Enloe medics responded to the crash.
One emergency responder’s uniform pants and skin were contaminated with blood. The pants were discarded and had to be replaced.
Firefighters work to extinguish the burning ruins of the old Bucke’s Feed and Grain in the 1000 block of Sixth Street. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
The old Bucke’s Feed and Grain building in the 1000 block of Sixth Street (Highway 99) was destroyed by fire Thursday evening, Oct. 6.
At about 9 p.m., the Orland Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a structure fire in the area of Fifth and Walker Streets. A minute or two later, the actual location was determined to be Bucke’s on the east side of Sixth Street between Walker and South Streets.
Almost immediately, aid was requested from numerous area fire departments, including Corning, Capay, Artois, and Willows. Sixth Street was shut down between Walker and South Streets.
As firefighters wage battle with the structure fire, a power pole and power lines across Sixth Street can be seen smoking and burning. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
The fire caused power lines to fall and a power pole to catch fire on Sixth Street, and firefighters had to drive along the railroad tracks to get to the fire.
Power went out to more than 1,000 residences and businesses west of Sixth Street and Interstate 5. PG&E said it would be hours before the pole and lines were replaced and the power turned back on.
The fire as viewed from the west end of Yolo Street. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
Sixth Street was reopened at about 11:30 p.m. The various fire departments began to be released from the scene at about the same time.
Shortly before midnight, Orland Fire Chief Justin Chaney told the fire dispatcher that the fire was mostly out and Orland firefighters were leaving for the night, but a couple of hot spots remained and Orland police officers would be checking on them throughout the night.
The Orland Fire Department would return to complete mop-up in the morning.
Having just used the “Jaws of Life” to open a section of the roof of the Toyota Venza SUV that was struck by another vehicle on Highway 99 at County Road 24 late Saturday afternoon, emergency responders work to extricate Barbara and Joe Everest from the vehicle. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
On Tuesday, the California Highway Patrol issued a news release regarding the hit and run crash that occurred on Highway 99 on Saturday.
According to the CHP, at about 5:50 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, Barbara Everest, 74, of Orland, was driving a 2009 Toyota Venza SUV south on Highway 99, just north of County Road 24.
An unknown male was driving a 2007 Pontiac G5 south on Highway 99, behind the Toyota.
For an unknown reason, the front of the Pontiac collided with the rear of the Toyota, causing the Toyota to overturn.
Following the collision, the driver of the Pontiac made a U-turn and fled north on Highway 99.
Sometime after the hit and run collision on Highway 99, this Pontiac G5 matching the description of the one that fled the scene was found abandoned on County Road E between Roads 15 and 17.
A citizen informed The Observer on Monday that the grandson of the two victims in the Toyota later found a car matching the description of the Pontiac, with damage to its front end, abandoned on County Road E between County Roads 15 and 17.
As reported in The Observer on Sunday, after being struck, the Toyota continued south perhaps a hundred yards or so, overturning and coming to rest on its driver side.
Its two occupants, driver Barbara Everest and her passenger, Joe Everest, 75, of Orland, were stuck inside and had to be extricated by Orland firefighters using the “Jaws of Life.”
This photo shows some of the damage to the front end of the Pontiac that was found abandoned on County Road E following the crash on Highway 99 just before dusk on Saturday.
The Enloe FlightCare medical helicopter was dispatched to scene of the crash. It landed in the middle of Highway 99, south of the scene, but the Everests were instead transported by ground ambulance to Enloe Medical Center in Chico.
According to CHP Officer Barone, both occupants of the Toyota sustained minor injuries. Barbara Everest’s apparent injuries consisted of pain to her neck and back, and a contusion to her stomach, while Joe Everest’s apparent injuries consisted of lacerations to his scalp and right arm.
Both were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the collision.
The CHP requests that if anyone has information regarding this case, please contact Officer Barone at 530-934-5424.
Having just used the “Jaws of Life” to open a section of the roof of the minivan that was struck by another vehicle on Highway 99 late Saturday afternoon, emergency responders work to extricate the female occupant of the minivan. Barely visible inside the mid-section of the vehicle is Orland Firefighter Jerry Kraemer, who was supporting the head and neck of the male occupant. The injured man was hanging upside-down in the vehicle for several minutes, and he could only be extricated after the woman was freed. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
Very late Saturday afternoon, Oct. 1, a collision on Highway 99 at County Road 24 caused one of the two vehicles involved to roll over, injuring and trapping its occupants inside.
Meanwhile, the other vehicle and its driver took off, although pieces of the vehicle were apparently left behind. It looked like quite a few witnesses remained at the scene as well.
Emergency responders began to be dispatched at about 5:52 p.m. No official news report has yet been released, but observations at the scene strongly suggest that the vehicle that rolled over, a minivan, was traveling south on Highway 99 when it was struck by another vehicle at County Road 24.
The minivan continued south perhaps a hundred yards or so, rolling over and coming to rest on its driver side. Its two occupants, a man and a woman, were stuck inside and had to be extricated by Orland firefighters using the “Jaws of Life.”
Firefighters work to extricate the male occupant of the vehicle. Cuts were visible, including at least one to his head. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
The Enloe FlightCare medical helicopter was quickly dispatched. It landed in the middle of Highway 99, south of the accident scene, but it did not appear that either of the accident victims was transported in it and they were instead taken to the hospital in a ground ambulance.
More than one sighting of a vehicle thought by the callers to be the one that fled the scene were reported during the evening. However, at least one of these sightings may have been of a vehicle involved in another hit and run (vehicle versus pedestrian) that happened about 8 p.m. in front of Circle K on Wood Street in Willows.
The vehicle from the Circle K accident has been described as a grey four-door car, possibly with a broken headlight lens. As of right now, The Observer has received no description of the vehicle that fled the crash at Highway 99 and Road 24.
A Central California man was accidentally killed on Sunday, Sept. 25, while hunting in the Mendocino National Forest.
At about 10:25 a.m., the Glenn County Sheriff’s dispatch center received a call for medical assistance in the Mendocino National Forest for a hunter, Roberto Chavez-Revuelta of Oakdale, who had an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound. The person’s location was not known at the time of the call and CHP air support was requested.
CHP H16 responded to the area and located the hunter. The hunter had succumbed to his wound and was pronounced deceased by the CHP at 2:04 p.m.
Glenn County Sheriff’s personnel, California Fish and Wildlife personnel, and Forest Service personnel responded.
The man was located down a steep embankment. With the assistance of CHP H16, he was removed from the scene and later transported to F.D. Sweet and Son Mortuary in Willows.
The scene was not completely cleared until 9:40 p.m.
The Glenn County Observer 